Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-01-29
GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE.
WAsHINGTONLETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

WARRINGTON. Jan. Il,
Congress has paid special attention t
farmers this week. 1t has discussed thu
question of interstate commerce. Of s.
much importance to them; has talked
about how best to eradicate Pleuro-tneit
monia: has made an attempt to consider
the bill a%mendatory Of the act establishing
a buresu of animal industry, and the house
has succeeded in elevating the Agricultu
raj department to executive importance
SO. when the senate concurs, the Commits
sioner of Agricultural will have a seat il
the czbinent. and be called the secretary
Of Agricultural, and his wife will assist al
the white house receptions on state occa-
sions.
There will also be in the department OF
Agriculture a division which shall be un-
der the charge Of a commissioner Of labor,
who shall hold his office for four years,
and receive a salary Of $4,000 a year. His
business shall be to collect information
upon the subject of labor, its relation to
capital, the hours Of labor, the rate Of
wages, the cost Of production Of the arti-
cles produced, the earnings of the labor
ing men and women, the means of promot-
ing their material, social, intellectual. and
moral prosperity, and the best means Of
protecting life and preventing accidents
in mines, workshops, factories, and other
places of industry.
The secretary of Agriculture is empow-
cred by the bill just passed, to enquire into
the causes Of discomfort which may exist
between employers and employees within
the United States, and he may invite and
hear sworn statements from both such par
ties concerning matters in controversy.
Another important step has been taken
in the permanent exposition movement.
The senatorial committee on this subject
have reported in favor OF commemorating
the great constitutional centennial in 1889,
and very properly Washinhton has been
selected as the place for holding it. The
committee has not yet reported upon the
manner of the proposed celebration, or in
regard to the qudri-centennial of 1892, but
the action now taken furnishes sufficient
assurance that the entire programme, as
contemplated by the board Of promotion
and including its exposition features, will
receive the Endorsement Of congress.
There are a number Of absentees from
the senate chamber during these exciting
days of senatorial contests. Senators Con-
ger and Mcmillan have not returned from
their fruitless errands.t to secure reelection.
Senator Sewell is at New Jerseys capital,
locking after his fences. Senators Miller
and Van Wyck are in New York and Ne
braska respectfully, looking after their in
t~erests, senators Voorhees, and Harrison
are in indianapolis m%arshaling the oppo-
sing forces, and senator Maxey went TO
Texas in pursuit Of congressman Reagan.
The race Of these rivals caused some
amusement.
Senator Ma1ey heard Of Mr.. Reagan's
departure about twenty minutes after the
latter's train steamed away from the sta
tion, and Immediately he ordered his trunk
and engaged sleeping car accommodations
to Austin. Mr.. Reagan had about three
hours the start, but as he took the Virginia
Midland, and senator Maxey the St. Louis
route, it became not only a race for the
senatorship, but a lively race, as well, to
see which would be the first to enter the
legislature on opening day.
The house was much stirred up rthe
anti-polygany bill. When it came up for
consideration on Wednesday, the delegate
from Utah, Mr.. Game, took the floor in a
long speech which commanded the closest
attention. He said the measure was I'M
democratic, un-American, and Wantenly
destructive of human rights; that it set at
naught the immutable Trieciples upon
which the common rights of man were
founded, and turned the Mormons and
their church over to Unsuitable spoilers.
Delegate Game attracted the whole house
around him and excited the interest OF
the galleries during his spirited defense
of the Salt Lake hierarchy.
There was a good deal Of difference OF
opinion among members touching the con-
s~titutionality of some features of the Nor
mon bill. 1t proposes to extinguish what
is known as the Mormon church, and scat